Marine Air Control Group 38
Encyclopedia
Marine Air Control Group 38 (MACG-38) is a United States Marine Corps
aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
that is currently composed of 5 squadrons and 1 battalion that provide the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
s tactical headquarters, positive and procedural control to aircraft, air defense and UAV
support for the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation
, MACG-38 added another unmanned aerial vehicle squadron in 2008. The new squadron is named VMU-3
and is based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
, California
, California. The Group deployed to Saudi Arabia
in August of 1990 and later supported Operation Desert Storm. Elements of the group have supported Operation Restore Hope, Operation Safe Departure, Operation Southern Watch
and Operation Stabalize. The group relocated to MCAS Miramar in October of 1998. MACG-38 units began deploying to Kuwait
in 2002 and the entire control group would eventually take part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
and continued to deploy today in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom through early 2009. They were headquartered at Al Asad Airbase in the Al Anbar Province from 2004 through the end of their last Iraq deployment in early 2009.
Most recently the Group deployed to Camp Leatherneck
, Afghanistan
in March 2010. They are responsible for providing aviation command and control for the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They returned to The United States in Spring of 2011.
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
aviation command and control unit based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar , formerly Naval Air Station Miramar is a United States Marine Corps installation that is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, which is the aviation element of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
that is currently composed of 5 squadrons and 1 battalion that provide the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
3rd Marine Aircraft Wing
The 3d Marine Aircraft Wing is the major west coast aviation unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is headquartered at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California and provides the aviation combat element for I Marine Expeditionary Force...
s tactical headquarters, positive and procedural control to aircraft, air defense and UAV
Unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle , also known as a unmanned aircraft system , remotely piloted aircraft or unmanned aircraft, is a machine which functions either by the remote control of a navigator or pilot or autonomously, that is, as a self-directing entity...
support for the I Marine Expeditionary Force.
Subordinate units
- 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion3rd Low Altitude Air Defense BattalionThe 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion is an air defense unit of the United States Marine Corps. It is part of Marine Air Control Group 38 and the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and is currently based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California.-Mission:Provide close-in, low altitude,...
- Marine Air Control Squadron 1Marine Air Control Squadron 1Marine Air Control Squadron 1 is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control squadron . The squadron provides aerial surveillance, air traffic control, ground-controlled intercept, and aviation data-link connectivity for the I Marine Expeditionary Force...
- Marine Air Support Squadron 3Marine Air Support Squadron 3Marine Air Support Squadron 3 , is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit that provides the Direct Air Support Center for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force...
- Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 , is a United States Marine Corps aviation command and control unit that provides the Tactical Air Command Center for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing...
- Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38 is a United States Marine Corps communications squadron. The squadron provides expeditionary communications for the aviation combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force...
- Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 is an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron in the United States Marine Corps that operates the RQ-7 Shadow and ScanEagle. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California and provide aerial surveillance for the I Marine...
- Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3
Due to a re-organization within Marine aviation
United States Marine Corps Aviation
United States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
, MACG-38 added another unmanned aerial vehicle squadron in 2008. The new squadron is named VMU-3
VMU-3
Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3 is an unmanned aerial vehicle squadron in the United States Marine Corps that operates the RQ-7 Shadow that consists of approximately 200 Marines. They are based out of Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California and its primary...
and is based out of the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center , also known as 29 Palms, is a United States Marine Corps base. It was a census-designated place officially known as Twentynine Palms Base located adjacent to the city of Twentynine Palms in southern San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2000...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
History
Marine Air Control Group 38 was activated on September 1, 1967 at Marine Corps Air Station El ToroMarine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located near Irvine, California.Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps aviation on the West Coast. Designated as a Master Jet Station, its four runways could handle the largest aircraft...
, California. The Group deployed to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
in August of 1990 and later supported Operation Desert Storm. Elements of the group have supported Operation Restore Hope, Operation Safe Departure, Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
and Operation Stabalize. The group relocated to MCAS Miramar in October of 1998. MACG-38 units began deploying to Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in 2002 and the entire control group would eventually take part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
and continued to deploy today in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom through early 2009. They were headquartered at Al Asad Airbase in the Al Anbar Province from 2004 through the end of their last Iraq deployment in early 2009.
Most recently the Group deployed to Camp Leatherneck
Camp Leatherneck
Camp Leatherneck is a 1,600 acre United States Marine Corps base located in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade initially developed Camp Leatherneck in 2008 in preparation of its forces deploying to Afghanistan. The forward element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
in March 2010. They are responsible for providing aviation command and control for the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They returned to The United States in Spring of 2011.
See also
- United States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps AviationUnited States Marine Corps Aviation is the air component of the United States Marine Corps. Marine aviation has a very different mission and operation than its ground counterpart, and thus, has many of its own histories, traditions, terms, and procedures....
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft groups
- List of United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons